.

The Obama administration has told the Big 3 automakers that they must
change their product lines to small, fuel efficient cars to survive.  In fact,
if not for SUV's and full size pickups, the U.S. auto industry would have
gone bankrupt at least 10 years ago.

Korean built Kias and Hyundais don't pay U.S. taxes, Social Security.
wages, or benefits.  They don't have to comply with OSHA, EEOC or
EPA regulations.  To get anywhere near a competitive price, U.S. car
makers take a 15-20% loss on every small sedan they sell.  The profit
margin on full size vehicles had been used to cover those losses.

Obama knows what kind of car Americans will buy.  Until the Clintons
made a campaign issue of it in 2007, Obama drove a 340 HP Hemi V8
powered Chrysler 300.

Under normal circumstances, small sedans are no more than 20% of the
U.S. market.  Ordering the Big 3 to manufacture more econo boxes will
not change that.

The U.S. government could change American preferences the way the
European governments have.  European governments charge a 150% tax
on motor fuel, i.e.75% of the price Europeans pay for motor fuel is taxes.
It is unlikely that U.S. politicians have the guts to try that.  They will stick
with the proven failure, window dressing CAFE standards.

Barack Obama is every bit as qualified to design cars now as Bobby
Kennedy and Ralph Nader were in the late 60's.

Look for the U.S. auto industry to follow TV manufacturing to Asia. How
many Americans can make a living selling each other Asian made goods?

rw